Softball's Donnenwirth and Escobedo Named Pac-10 Player and Pitcher of the Week

Courtesy: Sun Devil Athletics
Release: 02/16/2011

Courtesy: Sun Devil Athletics

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Feb. 16, 2011

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- ARIZONA STATE senior third baseman Krista Donnenwirth was named Pac-10 Softball Player of the Week and her teammate, freshman pitcher Dallas Escobedo was named Pac-10 Softball Pitcher of the Week forFeb. 7-13, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today.

Donnenwirth came alive at the plate over the weekend at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., hitting .500, slugging .813, with five runs, three RBI, two doubles and one home run, leading the Sun Devils to a 5-1 opening weekend record. The Mission Viejo, Calif., native led the squad to a win over then-No. 22 Oklahoma State when she broke open a 0-0 tie with a shot to left center in the fourth to give ASU a 1-0 lead, which proved to be the game-winning home run. She also went 3-for-3 against then-No. 9 Oklahoma as the Sun Devils won 4-3.

Escobedo had a standout first weekend as a collegiate pitcher, winning four games, two against top-25 opponents. In her collegiate debut against Western Michigan on Thursday, the Phoenix, Ariz., native pitched three innings, tallying four strikeouts in a 17-0, five-inning rout. She came back on Friday to pitch 1.1 innings against Cal Poly, where she earned two K’s. In the second game of the day on Friday, Escobedo pitched a seven inning, 1-0 shutout of then-No. 22 Oklahoma State. The freshman earned 11 strikeouts and allowed only two hits. Escobedo then turned in another strong performance against then-No. 9 Oklahoma, pitching a complete game for the Sun Devils in a 4-3 victory, where she hurled another 11 strikeouts. Overall opponents hit only .143 off Escobedo over the weekend. For her efforts, Escobedo was named USA Softball Player of the Week.

This is the second career Player of the Week honor for Donnenwirth and the first career Pitcher of the Week award for Escobedo. Arizona State now has 61 softball weekly honors all-time.

The No. 9/12 Sun Devils return to the field on Friday, Feb. 18, as they host the Littlewood Classic. ASU has five games on the slate and will face the likes of Seattle University, Illinois State, Idaho State and Iowa.